Board of Architectural Review

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Board of Architectural Review convened on February 13, 2008, with Clyde Carpenter presiding as the meeting's presiding officer. The board reviewed five agenda items involving various residential property modifications throughout the city, including changes to openings, porch designs, siding materials, and other architectural elements. During the session, the board took six votes and heard two public comments from community members. The board approved three of the five applications presented, while postponing decisions on two items for further consideration. The approved projects included modifications at 148 Woodland Avenue, 217 South Ashland Avenue, and 239 South Limestone, while applications for 313 Lafayette Avenue and 611 East Main Street were postponed.

Attendance

The following Board members were present at the February 13, 2008 meeting:

• Terry Hanely
• Derek Winfield
• Jim Dickinson
• Clyde Carpenter

All Board members were in attendance. No members were reported as absent or late for this meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The Board took action on six items during the February 13, 2008 meeting, with all motions receiving unanimous support from the four members present: Terry Hanely, Derek Winfield, Jim Dickinson, and Clyde Carpenter.

Certificate of Appropriateness Applications:

• 148 Woodland Avenue - The Board approved the COA application subject to two conditions listed in the staff report. The motion passed 4-0 by voice vote.

• 217 South Ashland Avenue - The Board approved the COA application subject to four conditions listed in the staff report. The motion passed 4-0 by voice vote.

• 239 South Limestone - The Board approved the COA application with specific conditions regarding joint details not mimicking the existing structure, with final details to be reviewed by staff. The motion passed 4-0 by voice vote.

Postponed Applications:

• 313 Lafayette Avenue - The Board voted 4-0 to postpone this application to the January 27th meeting.

• 611 East Main Street - The Board voted 4-0 to postpone this application to March 12th for further fact-finding.

Administrative Business:

• Meeting Minutes - The Board approved the December 12, 2007 meeting minutes by a 4-0 voice vote.

All votes were conducted by voice vote rather than roll call, with no dissenting votes or abstentions recorded. The specific Board members who made motions and provided seconds were not identified in the meeting record, though all four present members voted in favor of each item considered.

Public Comment

Two speakers addressed the Board during the public comment period at the February 13, 2008 meeting.

Andrew Moore spoke regarding material selection for 239 South Limestone 0:00. Moore, who identified himself as the designer for the property owner, requested that the board reconsider the material selection for the foundation. He sought approval to use materials that would achieve a higher level of finish for the project.

Al Graff addressed the Board concerning the painting of a masonry garage at 611 East Main Street 0:00. Graff explained his reasons for painting the garage structure, citing existing damage and graffiti as factors necessitating the paint application. He expressed his willingness to paint the remaining sides of the garage if the Board would grant permission for the work.

Both speakers presented requests related to modifications or improvements to existing properties within the Board's jurisdiction, seeking either reconsideration of previous decisions or approval for proposed work.

Appointments

The Board addressed one appointment matter during the February 13, 2008 meeting.

• Jack Ballard resigned from the Board of Architectural Review

No additional appointment actions were taken during this meeting.

Contested Items

The Board faced a significant dilemma regarding the unauthorized painting of a masonry garage at 611 East Main Street. The situation created a heated discussion among board members as they grappled with how to address a violation that had already occurred and could not be easily remedied.

The central issue involved a property owner who had painted their brick garage without obtaining the required approval from the Board. This action violated the established procedures for exterior modifications to historic properties. However, the situation was complicated by the fact that the paint could not be removed from the brick surface without causing damage to the underlying masonry.

The Board found themselves in what was described as a "quandary" - caught between their responsibility to enforce compliance with approval requirements and the practical reality that forcing paint removal could result in permanent damage to the historic brick structure. This created a no-win scenario where strict enforcement of the rules could potentially cause more harm to the historic fabric of the building than the original violation.

The heated nature of the discussion suggests that board members held differing views on how to proceed. Some may have favored strict enforcement of the approval process, while others likely argued for a more pragmatic approach given the irreversible nature of the situation and the potential for additional damage.

The specific outcome of this contentious debate was not detailed in the available information, leaving unclear whether the Board ultimately decided to require remediation, impose penalties, accept the painted garage as-is, or pursue some other resolution to this challenging enforcement situation.

148 Woodland Avenue: Change opening

0:00

The Board reviewed an application for changing an opening at 148 Woodland Avenue. Although the applicant was not present at the meeting, they had indicated agreement with the staff report regarding the proposed modifications.

Clyde Carpenter served as the key speaker for this agenda item, presenting the details of the application to the Board. The discussion focused on the technical aspects of the opening change and the staff's assessment of the proposal.

The Board found the application to be in compliance with applicable regulations and standards. With the applicant's documented agreement with the staff recommendations and no objections raised during the review process, the Board moved forward with their decision.

The application for changing the opening at 148 Woodland Avenue was approved by the Board.

217 South Ashland Avenue: Change rear porch design; install paving

0:00

The Board reviewed an application for modifications to the rear porch design and installation of paving at 217 South Ashland Avenue. This item was designated as agenda item 2 for the meeting.

Trevor Wells served as the key speaker for this discussion, presenting the proposed changes to the Board members. The application involved alterations to the existing rear porch structure as well as the addition of new paving elements to the property.

During the review process, staff had prepared recommendations regarding the proposed modifications. The applicant indicated agreement with these staff recommendations, which helped facilitate the Board's consideration of the request.

The discussion proceeded without significant debate or concerns raised by Board members. The straightforward nature of the application, combined with the applicant's acceptance of staff guidance, contributed to a smooth review process.

Following the presentation and brief discussion, the Board approved the application for the rear porch design changes and paving installation at 217 South Ashland Avenue. The approval allows the property owner to proceed with the proposed modifications as outlined in their submission to the Board.

239 South Limestone: Construct porch; change siding material

0:00

The Board reviewed an application for 239 South Limestone involving the construction of a porch and changes to the building's siding material. This agenda item was designated as item 3 on the meeting docket.

Andrew Moore served as the key speaker for this discussion, presenting details about the proposed modifications to the property. The application centered on two main components: the addition of a new porch structure and the replacement or alteration of the existing siding material on the building.

During the review process, the applicant requested reconsideration of the material selection for the project. This suggests that initial material choices may have required adjustment to meet the Board's standards or guidelines for the property or district.

The Board engaged in discussion regarding the proposed changes, evaluating both the porch construction plans and the siding material specifications. The review process considered how these modifications would impact the character and appearance of the property within its surrounding context.

Following their deliberation, the Board approved the application for 239 South Limestone. This approval encompasses both the porch construction and the siding material changes as presented, including any adjustments made during the reconsideration of materials.

The approval allows the property owner to proceed with the planned improvements, which will add the new porch feature and update the building's exterior siding according to the specifications reviewed and accepted by the Board.

313 Lafayette Avenue: Remove chimney; install skylights

0:00

The Board considered agenda item 4, an application for 313 Lafayette Avenue requesting permission to remove a chimney and install skylights.

The discussion of this application was brief, with the Board determining that the matter required additional review before a decision could be made. No detailed presentation of the proposed work was provided during this meeting, and no specific concerns or technical details were discussed on the record.

The Board voted to postpone consideration of the 313 Lafayette Avenue application to a future meeting. No timeline was specified for when the item would return to the agenda for further review and potential approval.

611 East Main Street: Paint masonry garage

0:00

The Board reviewed agenda item 5, an application to paint a masonry garage located at 611 East Main Street. Staff had recommended disapproval of the proposed painting project.

Al Graff, representing the applicant, addressed the Board to explain the reasoning behind the request to paint the masonry garage. The specific details of the applicant's justification and the staff's concerns that led to their recommendation for disapproval were discussed during the meeting.

Following the presentation and discussion of the application, the Board decided to postpone making a decision on this matter. The postponement allows for additional time to review the proposal or gather more information before rendering a final determination on whether to approve or deny the request to paint the masonry garage at this East Main Street location.